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BROWN WELL 1 [FPN E16313]

 
Site Contact:
Vincent Zenone
On-Scene Coordinator

(zenone.vincent@epa.gov)

Site Location:
BREEDTOWN, PA 16354
 response.epa.gov/Brown_Well-1
NRC#: 11143455

On 03/21/2016: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Oil & Gas Management Program (OGMP), responded to contain a discharge of crude oil from a leaking oil well at an abandoned on-shore production facility in Cherrytree Twp., Venago Co., PA. An estimated 10 barrels of crude oil had discharged from the well, flowed overland, down-gradient, through a freshwater wooded wetland area, into an unnamed tributary and into Prather Creek. Of the estimated 10 barrels, approximately 0.5 barrels discharged into Prather Creek. Defensive actions were implemented by PADEP-OGMP, however, due to the condition of the abandoned, leaking well, the source could not be secured. PADEP-OGMP notified the National Response Center (NRC) and NRC #1143455 was assigned to the incident. EPAR3 OSC Zenone followed-up via telecoms, discussed the incident with PADEP-OGMP and offered federal assistance as may be necessary. PADEP-OGMP to continue to monitor the situation, maintain defensive action and commence with efforts to identify potentially responsible parties pending OSC’s availability to conduct on-site assessment.

On 04/20/2016, PADEP-OGMP met OSC Zenone at an off-site location, briefed the OSC on the status of its removal activities to date and provided preliminary information regarding the identity of potentially responsible parties. OSC Zenone met the landowner on-site and obtained verbal consent for access, and accompanied by PADEP-OGMP, commenced with an on-site removal assessment. OSC Zenone observed that there had been a discharge from and determined that the on-shore facility continued to pose a substantial threat to discharge crude oil into the navigable waters of the U.S. (Prather Creek) in absence of continued removal activities. PADEP-OGMP agreed to continue maintenance of defensive actions, gather documentation from the courthouse under a PRFA. OSC Zenone provided PADEP-OGMP a draft Statement of Work (SOW) and will finalize the PRFA upon PADEP-OGMP’s acceptance of the SOW.
OSC Zenone accessed CANAPS and obtained an initial project ceiling of $10000 to continue to monitor the situation to ensure that proper removal action is being undertaken.

Defensive actions and efforts to identify PRPs to continue to be conducted by PADEP-OGMP under a PRFA. Upon receipt and review of PRP-search documentation from PADEP-OGMP, the OSC will serve Legal Notice to PRP(s).

Upon identification of the RP, the OSC will afford the RP an opportunity to conduct proper removal actions. In absence of an RP, the OSC to direct removal response activities to remove or arrange for the removal of a discharge, and mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of a discharge, including but not necessarily limited to, plugging the abandoned well.


Brown Well 1, as designated for federal removal response activities, is one of many wells at an abandoned on-shore (production) facility. The facility transcends current surface ownership and current OGM rights. BROWN WELL 1 BROWN WELL 1 BROWN WELL 1 CRUDE OIL-CONTAMINATED SOIL AND DEBRIS DEPICTS THE OVERLAND PATHWAY TOWARDS PRATHER CREEK FROM BROWN WELL 1. DEFENSIVE ACTIONS, HAND-EXCAVATED CONTAINMENT TRENCH IMPLEMENTED BY PADEP-OGMP BETWEEN THE LEAKING BROWN WELL 1 AND PRATHER CREEK. CRUDE OIL-CONTAMINATED SOIL AND DEBRIS CONTINUES TOWARDS PRATHER CREEK FROM BROWN WELL 1. DEFENSIVE ACTIONS: SORBENT BOOM DEPLOYED BY PADEP-OGMP AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE UNNAMED TRIBUTARY AT PRATHER CREEK. PADEP-OGMP PERSONNEL CHECK CONDITIONS ON PRATHER CREEK DURING OSC'S REMOVAL ASSESSMENT THIS DATE. Brown Well 1: an abandoned well continues to leak. defensive actions (5-gallon bucket and sorbent pads) deployed and maintained by PADEP view of overland pathway of crude oil from the location of the abandoned leaking well through the wooded area, to a wetland area and into Prather Creek pathway of crude oil from the source through the wooded area towards the wetland area and headwaters of Prather Creek defensive actions initiated by PADEP-OGMP along the pathway of crude oil from the source through the wooded area towards the wetland area and headwaters of Prather Creek pathway of crude oil from the source through the wooded area into the wetland area with drainage to the headwaters of Prather Creek defensive actions initiated by PADEP-OGMP in the wetland area with drainage to the headwaters of Prather Creek defensive actions at the wellhead continue to be maintained under PRFA issue to PADEP-OGMP defensive actions in the wetland area continue to be maintained under PRFA issue to PADEP-OGMP defensive actions at the wellhead continue to be maintained under PRFA issue to PADEP-OGMP defensive actions in the wooded area down-gradient from the leaking well continue to be maintained under PRFA issue to PADEP-OGMP defensive actions in the wooded area down-gradient from the leaking well continue to be maintained under PRFA issue to PADEP-OGMP mobilization of EPA-hired contractor (ERRS) resources on-scene commenced this date mobilization of EPA-hired contractor (ERRS) resources on-scene commenced this date mobilization of EPA-hired contractor (ERRS) resources on-scene commenced this date The right-of-way utilized to gain access the property on which the abandoned leaking well was situated was located on two other private properties The right-of-way utilized to gain access the property on which the abandoned leaking well was situated was located on two other private properties The right-of-way utilized to gain access the property on which the abandoned leaking well was situated was located on two other private properties The right-of-way utilized to gain access the property on which the abandoned leaking well was situated was located on two other private properties from this point south towards the well location, the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out the right-of-way had to be graded-in and brushed-out defensive actions at the leaking well continued to be implemented by PADEP-OGMP under a PRFA oil recovered to date was staged on-site in this polytank grading-in access at the well location swamp pads deployed to facilitate access to the well location oil contaminated soil and debris was dozed away from the well location and staged on-site pending on-site treatment (biodegradation in lieu of off-site transport and disposal) oil contaminated soil and debris was dozed away from the well location and staged on-site pending on-site treatment (biodegradation in lieu of off-site transport and disposal) grading well location in prep for cleanout/plugging ops grading well location in prep for cleanout/plugging ops setting-up service rig in prep for cleanout/plugging ops. In foreground, contingency containment pit was excavated and pit-liner installed service rig set-up prep for clean-out/plugging ops. the well gassed-off and flowed during cleanout ops. flow of crude oil from the well was diverted into the contingency containment pit. cleanout ops continue cleanout ops continue cleanout ops continue plugged well topped-off with pea gravel plugged well topped-off with pea gravel upon completion of well plugging ops, oil-contaminated soil and debris previously moved away from the well location is redistributed at the well location for on-site treatment (biodegradation) in lieu of hauling off-site for disposal. upon completion of well plugging ops, oil-contaminated soil and debris previously moved away from the well location is redistributed at the well location for on-site treatment (biodegradation) in lieu of hauling off-site for disposal. upon completion of well plugging ops, oil-contaminated soil and debris previously moved away from the well location is redistributed at the well location for on-site treatment (biodegradation) in lieu of hauling off-site for disposal. upon completion of well plugging ops, oil-contaminated soil and debris previously moved away from the well location is redistributed at the well location for on-site treatment (biodegradation) in lieu of hauling off-site for disposal. upon completion of well plugging ops, oil-contaminated soil and debris previously moved away from the well location is redistributed at the well location for on-site treatment (biodegradation) in lieu of hauling off-site for disposal. upon completion of well plugging ops, oil-contaminated soil and debris previously moved away from the well location is redistributed at the well location for on-site treatment (biodegradation) in lieu of hauling off-site for disposal. Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Prather Creek monitored and documented by the OSC this date. Conditions at Conditions at Conditions at Prather Creek monitored and documented by the OSC this date. The OSC performed a final site visit, observed and documented The OSC performed a final site visit, observed and documented The OSC performed a final site visit, observed and documented The OSC performed a final site visit, observed and documented conditions at Prather Creek. No oil or sheen observed in the drainage areas from the well location, through the wetland or on the waters of Prather Creek. No further removal response activities anticipated.
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.